JP7157664B2 - Virtual footrest device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for adapting pedal response according to different driving modes, particularly during cruise-control so that the pedals take the place of footrests. Apparatus for increasing reaction force. The present invention relates particularly, but not exclusively, to vehicle pedals, especially automobile pedals.

Although not prevalent in production automobiles, the concept of "virtual footrests", pedals that act as footrests during cruise control, has been in the public domain for some time. For example, EP 2384921 (Volvo Car Corporation) published in 2012 discloses a pedal device for a vehicle. The pedal device comprises a pedal adapted to be depressed by a force applied by the driver and a limiting means adapted to limit the displacement of the pedal in the direction of depression. The limiting means is adapted to maintain the pedal in the rest position when the pedal is subjected to a force below a first preset threshold value while the vehicle is in the cruise control mode, thereby Acts as a footrest. The limiting means are further adapted to allow depression of the pedal away from the rest position when the pedal is subjected to a force exceeding the first threshold value. That is, the driver can accelerate by pushing through the footrest position. The pedal device is configured such that after the first threshold value is exceeded for at least a portion of the further displacement, the force required to depress the pedal gradually decreases as a function of the further displacement. It is configured.

European Patent No. 2384921

The inventors believe that the reason this technology has not spread to the market is due to the unfamiliarity of drivers and the lack of control over whether and/or beyond footrest mode is active. Suppose there is perhaps a potential confusion about the difficulty of controlling the speed precisely while pushing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved "virtual footrest".

According to a first aspect of the invention, the pedal comprises a pedal adapted to be depressed by a driver's force and a restriction mechanism adapted to limit the displacement of the pedal in the direction of depression. A vehicle apparatus, wherein the limiter mechanism increases the force required to depress the pedal while the vehicle is in a cruise control mode, thereby causing the pedal to reach a preset first threshold value. A footrest that maintains the pedal in the rest position when subjected to a force less than or equal to the first threshold value, but permits a depression that leaves the pedal from the rest position when the pedal is subjected to a force greater than a first threshold value. - the vehicle device is configured to enter a mode, the vehicle device comprising a visual indication to enter the first lighting state in response to actuation in the footrest mode, the visual indication being , the first illumination state continues while the limit mechanism maintains the pedal in the rest position, the visual indication extinguishes when the footrest mode or cruise control mode is released, and the visual indication remains at the footrest - To provide a vehicle device characterized by a second lighting state when the pedal is subjected to a force exceeding a first threshold value while in mode.

The first lighting state may be a static lighting state of a first color and the second lighting state may be a blinking state and/or a different color lighting state.

Providing a visual indication that the footrest mode is active is useful to avoid confusion about the state of the device, but it is useful to indicate when the pedal has been pushed past the footrest threshold. Providing a second lighting state is particularly useful for warning the driver of different pedal characteristics that may be encountered in this transitional state.

The visual indication is such that when the pedal is subjected to a force exceeding a first threshold value and passes through the first threshold position during the footrest mode, the second lighting state is reached. can be The first threshold position may be above the rest position. This avoids changing state in response to very small movements, such as accidental movements, which are insufficient and not intended to alter the vehicle's response.

The vehicle apparatus is adapted to turn off the visual illumination when the pedal remains above the first threshold position for a predetermined period of time, and simultaneously enter the cruise control mode and the footrest position. You can turn off the mode.

The vehicle apparatus is adapted to return to the first lighting state to indicate that the footrest mode and cruise control mode remain active if the pedals are returned to the rest position within a predetermined period of time. may

The vehicle device may be capable of disengaging the footrest mode (eg, in response to actuation of a switch) while the cruise control mode is maintained. The vehicle device may similarly enter the footrest mode only in response to actuation of the switch.

In response to driver intervention by a cruise control switch, by brake pedal or clutch, or by vehicle intervention (e.g., autopilot), the vehicle device The cruise control mode (and footrest mode) may be deactivated.

The pedal may be a throttle pedal. The throttle pedal may be a floor mounted throttle pedal.

A visual indicator may be a telltale. A tell tale may be provided on the dashboard and adjacent to the indication of cruise control status. Visual indications may include images of feet or shoes.

The vehicle device may be configured such that the force required to depress the pedal increases over the range of pedal displacement after the first threshold value is exceeded. Especially in performance automobiles with sharp throttle response, even in high gear at highway speeds, after pushing past the footrest threshold, the pedal The inventors believe that any reduction in the force required to depress may lead to lack of control. if more force is required to depress the pedal, a second lighting state of the visual indicator alerts the driver to unusual pedal characteristics while educating the driver on the concept of a virtual footrest; You will get used to it.

Depressing the pedal when the illumination of the visual indicator is extinguished and the cruise control mode and footrest mode are deactivated for a predetermined period of time during which the pedal is depressed beyond the first threshold position. The force required to maintain the pedal in place may be reduced (eg, gradually) so that the force required to hold the pedal returns to "normal".

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the "normal" level of force required to depress the pedal varies from vehicle to vehicle and is not a constant force: displacement ratio. For example, the force required during a "kick-down" increases. However, the "normal" force/displacement rate curve or straight line generated by the limiting mechanism will always allow the pedal to be depressed with less force than the first threshold value.

The predetermined period of time may be between 5 seconds and 1 minute, for example between 10 seconds and 30 seconds (eg about 20 seconds).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a vehicle apparatus comprising a pedal adapted to be depressed by a driver's force and a limiting mechanism adapted to limit the displacement of the pedal in the direction of depression. wherein the limiter mechanism increases the force required to depress the pedal while the vehicle is in cruise control mode so that the pedal receives a force below a preset first threshold value; The pedal is configured to maintain the pedal in the rest position when the pedal is in the rest position, but enter a footrest mode that permits depression of the pedal away from the rest position when the pedal is subjected to a force exceeding a first threshold value. After exceeding a threshold value of 1, the force required to depress the pedal provides a vehicle device that increases throughout the pedal's range of displacement.

That is, the feature that the force required to depress the pedal after exceeding the first threshold value increases over the entire range of pedal displacement is inventive even in the absence of a visual indication. It is considered to have Any of the optional features of the first aspect of the invention can be applied to the second aspect of the invention.

The invention also extends to a vehicle, in particular an automobile, comprising a vehicle apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the invention.

For a clearer understanding of the invention, embodiments of the invention are shown, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures:

1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to the invention; FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary limiting mechanism for increasing the force required to depress the pedal; 4 is a flow chart showing the control logic of the device; 3 is a diagram of a motor vehicle equipped with the device of FIGS. 1 and 2; FIG.

1, 2 and 4, a motor vehicle 1 comprises a device 2 for providing a "virtual footrest" function. The device 2 comprises a pedal device 3, a limiting mechanism 4 (the embodiment of which is shown in detail in FIG. 2), an electronic control unit 5 (actually a dedicated unit as shown, or an existing control unit). software) and a visual indicator 6 provided in the dashboard 7 .

Pedal device 3 is shown as a floor-mounted throttle pedal, but this is only a preferred device and those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be used with other types of pedal devices. right.

The electronic control unit 5 is operably connected to the pedal device 3, the limit mechanism 4 and the dashboard as well as the switch 8 so as to send and receive signals as required.

Restriction mechanism 4 includes a deployable element 9 . The deployable element 9 is retracted into the housing 10 of the limiter 4 under normal operation so as not to impede the arcuate motion of the throttle (to allow free movement between rest and full throttle positions). It has become.

The position of the deployable element is controlled by electronic control unit 5 . The electronic control unit 5 monitors throttle angle (and therefore throttle position), cruise control/footrest mode switch 8 position, brake pedal (not shown) position, and controls the vehicle 1 (e.g., , an autopilot subsystem (not shown).

As described above, the electronic control unit illuminates the visual indicators 6 and displays the tell tales 11 shown in FIG. 5 is also in communication with dashboard 7 .

The deployable element 9, when deployed, provides a limit to throttle movement that can be overcome if sufficient force is applied to the throttle. Thus, when deployed, the initial resistance to the force required to depress the throttle pedal 3 increases to provide a footrest function, but once overcome, the additional force causes the throttle pedal to 3 can be pushed further down between the rest position and full throttle.

In a particular embodiment of the restriction mechanism 4 of the invention, the deployable element 9 has a casing 18 . Casing 18 extends through an opening in housing 10 . Electric motor 13 is configured to drive spindle 14 in response to signals from electronic control unit 5 . A spindle 14 pivots a worm gear drive 15 to raise or lower a worm gear carrier 16 coupled to the drive. A worm gear carrier 16 likewise supports a slide platform 17 which is raised and lowered in response to movement of the electric motor 13 . The casing 18 of the deployable element 9 is mounted on the slide platform by means of a resilient member 19 in the form of a compression coil spring attached at one end to the slide platform and at the other end to the inner surface of the upper end of the casing 18 . . Casing 18 is hollow and is slidably mounted downwardly over slide platform 17 against the bias of a spring. A guide groove 20 is formed in the housing 10 . The guide groove 20 prevents the casing from moving up and down (in conjunction with or corresponding to the slide platform 17 as the carrier 16 moves) against the bias of the elastic member 19. guide.

Referring to FIG. 3 and other figures, in use, at step S1, the driver turns on cruise control (or adaptive/autonomous cruise control ACC). This is conventionally accomplished by turning on switch 8 or other input means, which causes cruise control indicator 12 to illuminate. The ECU 5 can interpret this as automatically activating the virtual footrest. Alternatively, in step S2, the ECU 5 may wait until the switch 8 is turned on to activate the virtual footrest mode. As mentioned above, the ECU 5 monitors the position of the throttle pedal 3 by monitoring the angle of the throttle pedal 3, which is the rest position α ₀ (i.e., the position the pedal returns to when no force is applied). , the virtual footrest feature is turned on, as shown in step S4.

When the footrest function is turned on, the ECU 5 sends a signal to the dashboard 7 to illuminate the virtual footrest telltale 11 in a first lighting state (eg static state). At the same time, the ECU 5 sends a signal to the limiter mechanism 4 to implement a footrest mode that increases the force required to depress the pedal 3 . This maintains the pedal 3 in a rest position sufficient to act as a footrest and support the driver's foot while the pedal 3 is subjected to a force below a predetermined first threshold value. do. This is achieved in this embodiment by an electric motor 13 which lifts the deployable element 9 .

The footrest function can be deactivated by either driver intervention or vehicle intervention.

Perhaps most commonly, the footrest function is released by driver action. This is done by the driver disengaging the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal or switching off the cruise control, as shown in step S5. In this case, in step S8, the cruise control is turned off in the normal manner and the ECU 5 receives a signal indicating the same, so that the ECU sends a signal to the limit mechanism 4 to deactivate the deployable element 9. Retract immediately (eg within 1 or 2 seconds) and send a signal to dashboard 7 to extinguish footrest indicator 6 . Thus, when the driver depresses the pedal 3, it will respond in the normal way.

Alternatively, the footrest function may be deactivated by operating the vehicle, as shown in step S6. For example, the autopilot may hand over control to the driver for one reason or another. Again, step S8 is reached in which the cruise control is turned off in the usual manner and the ECU 5 receives a signal indicating the same, which in turn sends a signal to the limit mechanism 4 to deactivate the deployable element 9. Retract immediately (eg within 1 or 2 seconds) and send a signal to dashboard 7 to extinguish footrest indicator 6 . Thus, when the driver depresses the pedal 3, it will respond in the normal way.

In other situations, the driver may decide to accelerate from the footrest position. In this case, the pedal 3 must be depressed against the spring bias of the elastic member 19 in addition to the normal pedal 3 bias, and the force required to depress the pedal over its entire depression range is Due to the increase, the pedal 3 will be pushed down against the spring bias provided by the deployable element 9 and the elastic member 19 . The degree of increase can of course be adjusted by adjusting the spring constant of the compression spring.

In this case, as exemplified in step S7, the ECU 5 changes the throttle pedal to position α ₁ (rest position a few degrees) to avoid any unintended response to accidental impacts. degrees) and send an intermittent signal to the dashboard 7 to flash the footrest indicator 6 (alternatively, change the color of the footrest indicator or display a different message). may be used). At the same time, a timer starts counting down for a predetermined period (for example, 20 seconds). If the ECU 5 determines that the throttle pedal 3 remains above the position α ₁ for a predetermined period of time, the footrest indicator 6 remains in the second illuminated state (e.g., flashing) while the motor Lower the deployable element over a period of time, or at least slowly (eg, over 10 seconds instead of 1-2 seconds). This retraction is a function of time and is independent of throttle pedal position.

In this way the driver is alerted to the fact that he is in a transitional mode by flashing the tell tale 11 and the response of the throttle does not depress the pedal over the travel length any potential disruption. A gradual return to normal without dangerous changes in force required for

Finally, as shown in step S9, footrest mode can of course be deactivated by the driver simply turning off footrest mode while keeping cruise control active. Again, the deployable element 9 immediately retracts and the footrest indicator turns off, but the cruise control system is unaffected.

The above embodiments have been described as examples only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (12)

a pedal adapted to be depressed by force applied by the driver;
a limiting mechanism adapted to limit the displacement of said pedal in a depression direction, comprising:
The limiting mechanism increases the force required to depress the pedal while the vehicle is in a cruise control mode such that the pedal receives a force below a first preset threshold value. maintains the pedal in the rest position when the pedal is in a rest position, but enters a footrest mode that permits depression of the pedal away from the rest position when the pedal is subjected to a force exceeding the first threshold value. is composed of
the vehicle apparatus comprising a visual indicator of a first lighting state in response to operation in the footrest mode;
the visual indication continues in the first illumination state while the limit mechanism maintains the pedal in the rest position;
the visual indicator extinguishes when the footrest mode or the cruise control mode is deactivated;
the visual indication becomes a second illuminated state when the pedal passes a first threshold position under force exceeding the first threshold value during the footrest mode ;
extinguishing illumination of the visual indicator when the pedal remains above the first threshold position for a predetermined period of time;
A vehicle apparatus , wherein said cruise control mode and footrest mode are simultaneously deactivated when said visual indicator is deactivated . The first lighting state is a static lighting state and/or a first color lighting state, and the second lighting state is a flashing state and/or a color different from the first color. 2. The vehicle device of claim 1 in an illuminated state. When the pedal returns to the rest position within the predetermined time period, the first lighting state is restored to indicate that the footrest mode and cruise control mode remain active. 2. The vehicle device of claim 1 . 4. A vehicle apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim , wherein the footrest mode can be deactivated while the cruise control mode is maintained. 5. A vehicle apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the footrest mode is entered only in response to actuation of a switch. Disengaging said cruise control mode and said footrest mode in response to driver intervention by a cruise control switch, in response to driver intervention by a brake pedal or clutch, and/or in response to vehicle intervention. 6. A vehicle device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 which is adapted to. A vehicle apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pedal is a floor - mounted throttle pedal. 8. A vehicle apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the visual indication is a telltale provided on a dashboard. 9. Any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the force required to depress the pedal is arranged to increase over the range of displacement of the pedal after the first threshold value has been exceeded. A vehicle device as described. The illumination of the visual indicator is extinguished and the cruise control mode and the footrest mode are deactivated for the predetermined period of time that the pedal is depressed beyond the first threshold position. Claim 1 or claim 2 depending on claim 1 wherein the force required to maintain the pedal in place is reduced such that by time the force required to depress the pedal returns to normal. 10. A vehicle device according to any one of claims 1-9 . A vehicle apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or any one of claims 2 to 10 when dependent on claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time is between 10 and 30 seconds. A motor vehicle comprising a vehicle device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 .

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